Dnieper River Size report
The Dnieper River is the second-largest river in eastern Europe and the fourth-largest river in Europe, originating from the southern foothills of the Valdai Hills in Russia. The Dnieper River flows southward through Belarus, Ukraine, and into the Black Sea.
Its main tributaries are the Desna River, Sozh River, Pripyat River, etc. There are canals in the upper reaches, connecting with the Neman River, the West Bug River, and the West Dvina River. Dnieper River has six hydropower stations, including Kremenchuk, Dnepr, Kanev, Dniproperzhinsk, Kakhovka, and Kyiv.
The Dnieper River Basin is very important in the history of the peoples of Eastern Europe. From the 4th to the 6th centuries, a shipping system was developed along this waterway, connecting the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea and the Slavic peoples with the peoples of the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.
Size And Description of Dnieper River
The Dnieper River originates from the swamp in the mixed forest area in the southern part of the Valdai Hills in Russia. The river flows through the Smolensk Oblast of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine and finally flows into the Black Sea 30 kilometers southwest of Kherson. The Desna River is the largest tributary on the left bank of the Dnieper River, with a length of 1,190 kilometers and a drainage area of 89,200 square kilometers. It flows into the Dnieper River near Kyiv, Ukraine. Below you will learn more about the river's length, drainage area, and hydrological characteristics.
Length and Basin Area of Dnieper River
The total length of the Dnieper River is 2,285 kilometers, the drainage area is 503,000 square kilometers, and the total drop is 253 meters. The lengths of the rivers in the three countries are 485 kilometers, 595 kilometers, and 1,205 kilometers, respectively. The annual average flow at the estuary is 1,670 cubic meters per second.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 2,285 km |
| Basin Area | 503,000 sq km |
| Terrain Drop | 253 m |
| Average Discharge | 1,670 cubic m/s |
Hydrological Characteristics
The Dnieper River Basin has a dense river network, with 31,954 large, medium, and small rivers, including seven rivers with a length of 501-1,000 kilometers; and two rivers with a length of more than 1,000 kilometers. The main river ports are Kyiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson. Important cities along the coast include Kyiv and Dnepropetrovsk.
The climate in the Dnieper River Basin is warm and humid, and the continental climate becomes more pronounced from northwest to southeast. Rainfall decreases from north to south. From the mouth of the river, it is navigable for 1677 kilometers. It can be navigable for 1990 kilometers below Dorogoburi. The freezing period is 3-4 months.
Distribution of Water Resources
The distribution of water resources in the Dnieper River Basin could be more balanced. The area with the most water resources is the upper part of the basin; although the basin covers 65 percent of the total basin area, it gathers 80 percent of the annual runoff. The total river runoff of the Dnieper River is 53 billion cubic meters, of which 30% is in Russia, 32% is in Belarus, and the remaining 38% is in Ukraine.
Final Words
While the Dnieper River provides domestic and industrial water for urban and rural residents along its banks, the damming and diversion of the Dnieper River has drastically altered its natural hydrology and ecology. Seasonal water flow variations have been reduced, leading to migratory fish's gradual decline. Urban and industrial discharges, as well as increased agricultural drainage, have caused pollution.
